2016 Seminar for New Governors

November 30 – December 2, 2016 | Chantilly, Virginia

Eight veteran governors and six governors-elect gathered in Chantilly, Virginia, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 for the National Governors Association (NGA) Seminar for New Governors. The biennial seminar serves as an executive-style retreat for governors-elect, whose veteran colleagues help in their transition from campaigning to governing.

The seminar brings together veteran and new governors from both parties for a series of business sessions, including developing the executive budget, hiring the best and the brightest, shaping a vision for the administration and managing strategic scheduling, communications and legislative relations. Staff-only sessions for participating transition teams are also offered. Governors’ spouses hold concurrent sessions for the spouses of governors-elect.

“As governors, we want to see each and every one of us succeed,” said NGA Chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who hosted the seminar in the northern part of the state.

In addition to the peer-to-peer sessions, governors and governors-elect were given a threat briefing by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which gave an overview of the most serious threats facing governors, including cybersecurity, homegrown violent extremism and threats originating overseas. They also heard from a panel that included Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate; Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau; and Gen. Lori Robinson, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, about how to be prepared for a crisis situation, including how to request federal disaster assistance.

Governors and Governors-Elect in Attendance